Niacinamide vs Vitamin C – Friends, Not Enemies
For years, skincare forums repeated that niacinamide and vitamin C “cancel each other out”. Modern research and real-world experience do not support this. For most people, the two ingredients can work well together.
What Each Ingredient Does
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Helps regulate sebum.
- Supports the skin barrier.
- Calms redness and blotchiness.
- Improves certain types of hyperpigmentation.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid & Derivatives)
- Antioxidant protection against free radicals.
- Supports collagen synthesis.
- Helps brighten the appearance of dark spots.
- Can make sunscreen protection more robust.
Can You Use Them Together?
Yes. The old concern was based on very specific lab conditions (high heat, long exposure times). In real-world skincare formulas, niacinamide and vitamin C can coexist without becoming harmful or useless.
Routine Ideas
- Option 1 – Together: vitamin C + niacinamide in the same serum or layered.
- Option 2 – Split: vitamin C in the morning, niacinamide at night.
- Option 3 – Rotate: alternate days if your skin is sensitive.
If your skin stings, flushes or feels hot when you combine them, simplify. Use one active at a time and reintroduce the other slowly.